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About the Mhadei Bio region

An area of exquisite wilderness that interestingly spans across the three states of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra and represents the ridges of the Western Ghats topography. It includes the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary of Goa and the Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary of Karnataka and reserved forests of Maharashtra.It encompasses an area of roughly 700 square kilometers and connects the forests of Karnataka to Goa and Maharashtra, thus making it one large contiguous corridor of forests for large mammals.

The region has been acknowledged as a Mega Biodiversity Hotspot as it is a part of the Western Ghats Range and has also been recognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. It is a recognized Tiger Conservation Unit (Mark II) and is also known for the discovery of the Mhadei Caecilian, a legless amphibian that is new to science. Field based conservation research benefits local communities and enthuses them. At the same time, such efforts provide data to wildlife ecologists and helps bridge the gap between the academic and the local community. Comprising of mixed moist, semi evergreen and secondary forest types, the forests of Mhadei are criss-crossed with streams that nurture a unique diversity that is typical of the Northern Western Ghats landscape. The diversity of this region offers a serious researcher a vast array of topics to choose from, apart from offering wonderful experiences in the wild. The last few years has seen a marked increase in the number of day visitors and nature enthusiasts who travel down this road to trek in these parts.

Salient Features of MRC

ONE

First of its kind Field based Research station based in the Northern Western Ghats of India.

TWO

Fuses biodiversity research with community participation for the benefit of ecology.

THREE

Is helping bring to limelight a hitherto unknown area of high endemism, rich biodiversity and a large mammal corridor.